2

1.—7

Resolved, on the motion of the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, That clauses 31 to 33, inclusive, be postponed for future consideration. Resolved, That clauses 34 and 35 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, on the motion of the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, That clauses 36 to 53, inclusive, be postponed for future consideration. Resolved, That clauses 54 to 72, inclusive, as printed, stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 73 be postponed for future consideration. Resolved, That clauses 74 to 88, inclusive, as printed, stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 89 be postponed for future consideration. Resolved, That clauses 90 to 93, inclusive, as printed, stand part of the Bill. Clause 94. The Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward moved to amend clause 94 by striking out the words " under the age of twenty-one years " in line 28. On the question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, That the clause as amended stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clauses 95 to 103 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That the First Schedule as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That the Second Schedule as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, on the motion of the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, that Colonel Robin (Chief of General Staff) be instructed to forward a report on the Defence Bill to-day, and also to furnish therewith subsidiary reports from Che officers of his staff. Resolved, That the Committee adjourn until 9.30 a.m., Fridav, the 10th day of December, 1909. The Committee then adjourned.

Friday, 10th December, 1909. The Committee met at 9.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Mr. Allen, Mr. Brown, Mr. Clark, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Mr. Rhodes, Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Resolved, That clause 9 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 12 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 20 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 21 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 22 as printed stand part of the Bill. Clause 23. On the question being put, That clause 23 as printed stand part of the Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow: — Ayes, 8.—Mr. Brown, Mr. Clark, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Reed, Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward. Noes, 2.—Mr. Allen, Mr. Rhodes. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, That clause 24 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 25 as printed stand part of the Bill. Clause 26. On the question being put, That clause 26 as printed stand part of the Bill, the Committee divided, and the names were taken down as follow: — Ayes, 7.—Mr. Brown, Mr. Clark, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Reed, Hon. Sir W. J. Steward, Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward. Noes, 3.—Mr. Allen, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Rhodes. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, That clause 27 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 28 as printed stand part of the Bill. And, the hour of half after ten having arrived, the Committee adjourned until 11.30 a.m. this day. And, the hour of half after eleven having arrived, the Committee resumed. Resolved, That clause 31 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 32 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 33 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 36 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clauses 37 to 53, inclusive, as printed, stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 73 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, That clause 89 as printed stand part of the Bill. Resolved, on the motion of the Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, That the following new clause be inserted: — " 27a. (1.) The Governor may from time to time, by Order in Council, provide for transferring to His Majesty any property held by trustees for the benefit of any Volunteer corps or for Volunteer purposes; so, however, that all property so transferred shall as from the date of the transfer he held by His Majesty for the benefit in like manner of the corresponding unit of the Territorial Force or for such other purposes as the Minister, with the consent of that corresponding unit (to be ascertained in the prescribed manner), directs. " (2.) Any question which may arise as to whether any property is transferred to His Majesty, or as to the trusts or purposes on or for which it is or ought to be held, shall be referred for the decision of the Minister, whose decision shall be final.